The proposed bill seeks to amend current statutes by introducing several new requirements for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) regarding the retirement of electric generation facilities. Under the new provisions, the ACC would be prohibited from approving the retirement of any electric generation facility unless a new facility with equal or greater power generation is available on the grid. Additionally, the ACC would need to consider imminent and planned closures of firm power sources in Arizona and other states when assessing replacement power needs. The bill also mandates that the ACC prioritize new generation facilities from dispatchable sources and project a minimum increase in dispatchable electricity by 5% between 2025 and 2030.

Furthermore, the bill outlines specific actions the state and the ACC must take in response to federal regulations that could lead to the closure of existing power plants, including seeking waivers or injunctions to delay such closures until replacements are available. It also requires electric generation facilities to notify the ACC of any external regulatory actions that could lead to their decommissioning and mandates the ACC to investigate the potential impacts of such actions on energy reliability and affordability. Definitions for key terms such as "dispatchable," "electric generation facility," "firm power," and "reliable" are also included to clarify the bill's intent and scope.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 40-363
House Engrossed Version: 40-363